as the kremlin shows off the western military hardware it has managed to seize. hello, i'm sumi somaskanda. thank you forjoining us. we start with rising unrest on college campuses across the us unfolding right now, as pro—palestinian protesters demonstrate against the israel—gaza war. these are live images of what's happening right now on the campus of the university of california los angeles where students are gathering on the school's tongva steps near the main protest encampment. thursday's classes have been cancelled as tensions remain high on the campus there in la. the chancellor of ucla announced an investigation after pro—israeli demonstrators appeared to attack a pro—palestinian encampment early wednesday. the chancellor says the investigation could lead

to arrests and expulsions. live now to helena humphrey on campus at ucla. those pictures and situation developing. let's see if we can bring helena humphrey it up. there she is. you havejust arrived. give us an idea of what is happening. the activity has been picking _ what is happening. the activity has been picking up _ what is happening. the activity has been picking up in - what is happening. the activity has been picking up in the - what is happening. the activity has been picking up in the last| has been picking up in the last half—hour since we have been here. right over my shoulder here, you can see the encampment. this is where we saw those clashes last night. a moment ago, i was able to speak to about four protesters who raise their hands. perhaps you can see them over the wooden barriers. a dispose order has been cold calling them to disperse or face arrest. we asked them and three out of

four were shaking their heads. they are wearing hard hats in light of the action we saw last night. you can see as well that row of significant number of police officers that have come to the campus. you can also see that with the and riot gear. in this direction, although the protesters in the encampment have been told to dispose, we can see here approach is going on, gradually more and more students have been turning up throughout the course of the day. they have been told they can continue to protest here. that is not an encampment and they have been chanting, saying hands of rafah, calling for a ceasefire and saying palestine will be free. it remains to be seen what would be developing in the coming hours now that we have a heavier police presence on the ground, in light of what we saw last night and those violent scenes.—

we saw last night and those violent scenes. remind us what the violent _ violent scenes. remind us what the violent scenes _ violent scenes. remind us what the violent scenes were - violent scenes. remind us what the violent scenes were and - violent scenes. remind us what | the violent scenes were and how it inflamed the situation? absolutely. it was in the middle of the night, the early hours of the morning, demonstrators busting through these barriers, wearing masks, holding sticks, saying they were protesting for israel and essentially it resulted in a them pushing through the barricades and some time loving fireworks into the crowd. 15 people were injured. one person is currently in hospital. today, the campus said they would work turning up for exams and were not able to set them. the administrators deploring the situation. the governor of california as well. this is what is facing many campuses across the country. the

balancing of freedom to speech and the fact that some jewish students saying they feel uncomfortable and unsafe at the campuses. also allegations of anti—semitism and islamophobia and arise thereof. anti-semitism and islamophobia and arise thereof.— and arise thereof. helena humphrey _ and arise thereof. helena humphrey thank- and arise thereof. helena humphrey thank you - and arise thereof. helena humphrey thank you so l and arise thereof. helena - humphrey thank you so much. i spoke about the unrest with professor dov waxman, who teaches israeli studies at ucla, and he discussed why theres so much pressure to clear the encampments. first of all, there is a concern for safety. what we saw last night was something that was completely unacceptable and the administration have to assure the safety of all students, both of those inside the practice encampment and all other students on the campus. there is a concern this is creating a dangerous environment essentially on the campus and the other concern the administration and is to ensure student, faculty and

staff can go about the business and take classes. today's classes were cancelled. class probably will not happen in person tomorrow and they are likely to go online. but that cannot continue for long. the university has to students and do its business and if the protesters and particularly the counter protest around it, if that makes it impossible, i think the administration is going to be faced with no other choice but to try to get this encampment to ultimately disbanded. whether that happen peacefully, unfortunately i'm not very confident. in new york, police say they arrested about 300 protesters on tuesday during campus raids at columbia university and the city university of new york. in a joint press conference, organisers of the campus protests called the arrests violent. the most dramatic moments came when police raided a building taken over by protesters on columbia's campus to apprehend them. police didn't say how many were students, but city officials said there's evidence

students have been influenced and trained by people not affiliated with columbia university. since those protests started at columbia, several students have been suspended. one of the students who served as a lead negotiator with the university tells the bbc his suspension was reversed wednesday, just one day after it was instated. the bbcs nomia iqbal sent this update from new york. one of the big questions in what happens next for the protest movement? columbia university was seeing as the main hub, where the protests started, and then inspired similar encampments around the country. protests can't continue inside the university, in terms of the encampment — that has now been taken down by the police. the president of the university has asked police to stay until may 17, but in terms of what happens outside the university, we don't know. i suspect that protesters who are part of the pro—palestinian movement aren't about to give up advocating for their cause anytime soon, and we know that the protesters, the students who are part of the encampment at the city college university

here in new york and columbia university are getting together to have a press conference and so we'll probably get an idea of where the movement will head next. bare in mind, more than 100 students have been suspended, that includes international students. i spoke to one student who said that he didn't know why he had been suspended. he wasn't given and explicit reason. he said he had nothing to do with that building that was taken over by some protesters, where they barricaded themselves in. that was the red line for the university of columbia and this person told me that being an international student if the suspension is confirmed, they could then face being kicked out of the us, so there are a lot of students who are in limbo, but as far as the university is concerned, this was always, they say, about taking back control of the campus. they said they had no problem with the cause of the students but they had a problem with the actions taken by some of them. that they felt that it had become disruptive. the key date for them is may 15, that is when it's graduation day.

they said that they want their seniors who are due to graduate, to have their moment. the protesters who are in the encampment, it was on the same lawn where graduation is due to take place and as far as the university is concerned, they're confident that that may 15 date will still go ahead for those who are graduating. at the university of texas, at dallas, us media say at least 17 people were arrested and charged so far with trespassing for setting up an encampent on the texas campus. we will keep a close eye on those protests. israel has reopened the main crossing into northern gaza — the erez crossing — for the first time since the attacks by hamas on october 7, to allow more humanitarian aid to cross into the areas threatened by famine. it comes after sustained international pressure by international governments and aid agencies. the un has warned that more than 70% of the gaza population faces catastrophic levels of hunger. our special correspondent fergal keane reports from the erez crossing.

a gate towards the war. where israel's army today showcased how it planned to boost aid reaching gaza. this is the erez crossing in the north of the gaza strip, with gaza devastated on the other side. the plan is to get 500 trucks a day into gaza from here. the un wants many more to avert what it calls a man—made famine. the optics, designed to convey an israel listening to america and other allies. every day, every day, we won't stop... all very different to the beginning of the war, nearly seven months ago. "we're putting a complete siege on gaza," said israel's defence minister, yoav gallant. "no electricity, no food, no water, "no gas — it's all closed."

this exercise comes after weeks of pressure on israel from the international community to allow more food, medicine, supplies into gaza and after one senior un official warned israel might be committing a war crime, using food as a weapon of war. the international criminal court is reportedly considering arrest warrants for israel's war leaders. are you worried that you, other senior idf officers, might be charged with war crimes as a consequence of that? we never set any bar, any limit regarding the entrance of humanitarian aid and specifically not food. the un and aid agencies say that simply isn't true. here, the charity world central kitchen reopened, a month after seven of its workers, including three britons, were killed in an israeli attack. this is a lifeline

in central gaza, where the elderly and children are acutely vulnerable from hunger and war. nine—year—old mayam al—al is dug free from the rubble of an air strike. 16 other children in her extended family were killed. hers is a life broken by war. mayam told us that now she wanted to go to god. a ceasefire won't bring back the dead, but it might allow mayam to believe again in life. fergal keane, bbc news, jerusalem. meanwhile, us secretary of state antony blinken has met with israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu injerusalem warning against a ground invasion of rafah, where 1.4 million displaced

palestinians are sheltering. mr blinken also called on hamas to accept the terms of a ceasefire deal, that would see a pause in fighting and the release of some israeli hostages in exchange for palestinian prisoners. here's our security correspondent frank gardner with more on what the deal could look like. we knew the rough idea of the deal which is that israel will permit the move northwards from rafah, in the south of gaza strip, back to the north end of the homes of displaced palestinian civilians. it will release thousands that we are not told how many—we presume thousands of palestinian prisoners from israeli jails and return of a figure of around 43 israeli hostages will be released from gaza. now, hamas are said to be considering it at the moment. they have not appreciated the pressure that has been put on them politically, with the usa

them politically, with the usa the ball is absolutely on hamas and if this deal fails the ball is absolutely on hamas and if this dealfails it is theirfault. hamas want and if this dealfails it is their fault. hamas want an end to the wharf and israel does not particularly want to end the war straightaway because it says it has unfinished business. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. london police have charged a man with the murder of 14—year—old boy in a sword attack in east london on tuesday. the 36—year—old man has been named as marcus aurelio arduini monzo. four people, including two police officers, were seriously injured. monzo also faces two counts of attempted murder, among other charges. a 17—year—old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after three people were injured at a secondary school in south yorkshire. a child was assaulted and two adults suffered minor injuries at the birley academy, in sheffield wednesday morning. police say they were called to an incident involving a sharp object. the school went into lockdown, and parents were informed. shortly before its first

show was due to begin, manchester's new co—op live arena postponed its opening for the third time. the venue said it was due to a technical issue. last week the general manager resigned over problems and delays. with enough capacity to hold almost 2a,000 people, it will be the uk's largest arena when it's fully open. you're live with bbc news. here in the us, the battle over abortion rights is playing out in the state of arizona. on wednesday, arizona senators voted to repeal a 19th century state law banning abortion. the bill to undo this near—total ban advanced with 16 in favour and 14 against. two republicans joined senate democrats to support the repeal bill. governor katie hobbs will sign the repeal of the 1864 near—total abortion ban on thursday. a new pew research center survey suggests that november's white house rematch between presidentjoe biden and former president donald trump will be close. 49% of registered voters favor donald trump

or are leaning toward voting for him, while 48% support or lean toward joe biden. the study says that overall voters are not looking forward to a biden—trump rematch. the two candidates must win over voters in a country that has become bitterly divided over key issues such as abortion rights and immigration. on thursday, mr biden will address supporters at a campaign event in the battleground state of north carolina. it comes as he faces mounting criticism from voters over his handling of the israel—gaza war. meanwhile, donald trump is running a race amid a mountain of legal troubles. the ex—president took advantage of a break in his new york hush money trial to hold a major campaign rally in wisconsin on wednesday. to discuss the presidential election i'm joined in the studio by former democratic congresswoman representing central florida, stephanie murphy, and former republican congressman of illinois's i3th district, rodney davis. great to see you both again. i

want to start with what we saw in arizona today. this repeal bill passing to the civil war era abortion ban. two republicans droning democrats to pass this repeal. what does it tell us about when republicans stand on abortion right now?— right now? republicans stand where most _ right now? republicans stand where most of _ right now? republicans stand where most of america - right now? republicans stand i where most of america stands. where abortion is to be rare and it needs to be instances that are not about just birth control. we are seeing archaic laws like the one put forward in arizona that is been rejected not only by democrats but republicans. people want commonsense access to coverage, especially, only when it comes to rape, incest or death of the mother and unfortunately it is not the case in overwhelming numbers. {05} not the case in overwhelming numbere— numbers. 40 republicans did vote to keep _ numbers. 40 republicans did vote to keep the _ numbers. 40 republicans did vote to keep the ban - numbers. 40 republicans did vote to keep the ban in - numbers. 40 republicans did vote to keep the ban in place| vote to keep the ban in place so there is a significant number of republican saying this extreme abortion right is

right for the state.— right for the state. --14. we talk about — right for the state. --14. we talk about the _ right for the state. --14. we talk about the arizona - right for the state. --14. we l talk about the arizona senate. they represent their constituents viewpoint. this is an issue now happening in arizona. what is happening across this country on college campuses is taking the nation by storm. you have a chance to prove right now in america where you stand. where isjoe biden? as we move forward we need to choose between the chaos in the campuses or patriotism. i chaos in the campuses or patriotism.— chaos in the campuses or atriotism. ., ., , ., patriotism. i want to get your view on abortions. _ patriotism. i want to get your i view on abortions. campaigners in arizona saying they want to put the motion on the ballot. what impact could that have on the larger vote and also the debate over abortion rights? because donald trump was able to stack— because donald trump was able to stack the supreme court and repeat— to stack the supreme court and repeal roe v. wade, it has opened _ repeal roe v. wade, it has opened up the opportunity for state to— opened up the opportunity for state to come forward with very

extreme — state to come forward with very extreme policies that significantly impact the health of women. florida today is day one of— of women. florida today is day one of a — of women. florida today is day one of a six—week ban and as a women— one of a six—week ban and as a woman who _ one of a six—week ban and as a woman who had pregnancies and had failed — woman who had pregnancies and had failed pregnancies i know that pregnancy is not something that pregnancy is not something that is_ that pregnancy is not something that is predictable and get now the government is standing between a woman and her doctor and her_ between a woman and her doctor and her health options and it is putting a lot of people's lives — is putting a lot of people's lives at _ is putting a lot of people's lives at risk and so when we see — lives at risk and so when we see this _ lives at risk and so when we see this under the ballot, i think— see this under the ballot, i think it _ see this under the ballot, i think it has the opportunity to energise _ think it has the opportunity to energise a lot of women and also — energise a lot of women and also libertarian men. when you look— also libertarian men. when you took at — also libertarian men. when you look at some of the polling, libertarians do not want to see the government involved in their— the government involved in their healthcare whether that is the — their healthcare whether that is the aca or over the right to access— is the aca or over the right to access for— is the aca or over the right to access for women's healthcare. an independence for many women. this will be an issue coming up in november. i want to ask about the campus protests.

democrats are also divided in their response. we saw a senator who said police need to crack down hard and called the protesters pro— hamas and other democrats who say this is students exercising their right in free speech.— students exercising their right in free speech. every american has a right _ in free speech. every american has a right to _ in free speech. every american has a right to free _ in free speech. every american has a right to free speech - in free speech. every american has a right to free speech but i has a right to free speech but when — has a right to free speech but when your efforts to engage in free speech involves property damage — free speech involves property damage and breaking the laws and hurting other people, that is where — and hurting other people, that is where the lines have to be drawn — is where the lines have to be drawn and _ is where the lines have to be drawn and i think, you know, i love _ drawn and i think, you know, i love senator federman because he is _ love senator federman because he is very— love senator federman because he is very authentic in his response _ he is very authentic in his response and i think is a much of what — response and i think is a much of what americans feel. there are limits _ of what americans feel. there are limits to how they express themselves and when it comes to property— themselves and when it comes to property damage and intimidation of others, that is crossing _ intimidation of others, that is crossing the line. and all of these — crossing the line. and all of these college campuses have a

responsibility to all of their students for their safety and the scenes we're unfold means these — the scenes we're unfold means these students's safety is at risk — these students's safety is at risk. ~ . these students's safety is at risk. . ., ., ., 4' these students's safety is at risk. ~ ., ., these students's safety is at risk. ., ., ., , risk. we are looking at images of ucla this — risk. we are looking at images of ucla this evening _ risk. we are looking at images of ucla this evening and - risk. we are looking at images of ucla this evening and we . risk. we are looking at images. of ucla this evening and we are seeing this peaceful protest. how do universities balance about right, even if it is speech you might not agree with versus the need to protect the students. i'm not talking about damaging property and impeding access, but this right to protest and safety? you're watching — protest and safety? you're watching right _ protest and safety? you're watching right now- protest and safety? you're watching right now this - protest and safety? you're watching right now this is l protest and safety? you're - watching right now this is what we saw in colombia is drastically different. this is a peaceful protest. this is exercising free speech. this is not denying jewish students access to the library at ucla. imagine if an african—american student was denied access to the library, if an hispanic student was denied access or someone who was a transgender

student. butjewish students can be denied access to the school... it can be denied access to the school- - -— can be denied access to the school... . , , .., school... it has been covered re school... it has been covered pretty extensively _ school... it has been covered pretty extensively as - school... it has been covered pretty extensively as well. i school... it has been covered i pretty extensively as well. and ri . htfull pretty extensively as well. and rightfully so — pretty extensively as well. and rightfully so but _ pretty extensively as well. and rightfully so but in _ pretty extensively as well. fific rightfully so but in the end, any discrimination have to be called out. this happening at ucla is not what we witnessed earlier this week and it is not what we witnessed with the building takeover at columbia, where we saw that property damage, we saw the criminality and we also saw the immaturity of these entitled students. hour of these entitled students. how will this play — of these entitled students. how will this play politically. the speaker of the house was picking up on this. members of congress in washington here today. do you think they will capitalise on this?— today. do you think they will capitalise on this? there is no way cannot — capitalise on this? there is no way cannot talk _ capitalise on this? there is no way cannot talk about - capitalise on this? there is no way cannot talk about this. i way cannot talk about this. again, americans have a chance to choose between the chaos and insanity that we have witnessed of these campuses and not this

peaceful protest seeing at ucla... peaceful protest seeing at ucla. . . , peaceful protest seeing at ucla... , , , ., ~ peaceful protest seeing at ucla... ,, , ., ~ ., ucla... this seems to me like a re eat ucla. .. this seems to me like a repeat of— ucla... this seems to me like a repeat of history _ ucla... this seems to me like a repeat of history where - ucla... this seems to me like a repeat of history where the - repeat of history where the black— repeat of history where the black lives matter practice created _ black lives matter practice created the theoretical cause for by— created the theoretical cause for by the people who showed up onjanuary— for by the people who showed up onjanuary six will feel for by the people who showed up on january six will feel they have — on january six will feel they have a _ on january six will feel they have a right. i am afraid what will happen will be as a reason for violence during the election.— for violence during the election. ~ ., , election. when donald trump wins election _ election. when donald trump wins election in _ election. when donald trump wins election in a _ election. when donald trump wins election in a landslide... more to discuss but always get both your perspectives. thank you forjoining us. the us state department is accusing russia of using chemical weapons in ukraine. the us says russia violated an international chemical weapons ban by using the choking agent chloropicrin against ukrainian troops. the tear gas is sometimes used in riot control. the ukrainian military says at least 500 soldiers have been treated for exposure to toxic substances and one was killed

by suffocating on tear gas. there's been no response from russia. the accusation comes as the us announces new sanctions against russia for its invasion of ukraine. meanwhile, russia has put on display a range of western—made military hardware captured from the battlefield in ukraine. it includes british—made armoured vehicles as well as tanks from france, germany and the united states. our russia editor, steve rosenberg went to see it. they're the kremlin's war trophies, and moscow is flaunting them. put on display, western military hardware. all these items had been sent to help ukraine on the battlefield, but were later captured by russia, including this, the husky, a british armoured vehicle, now a museum piece in moscow. there are tanks, too. this american abrams had been badly damaged near the ukrainian town of avdiivka.

it's now a prize exhibit at this military show, along with the german leopard tank the russians got, too. "it's incredible, jaw—dropping," says natalya. "it's amazing to think that our guys managed "to collect all these trophies". there was plenty of interest from the russian public. russians crowded around to get a glimpse and a photo. family days out don't get much more bizarre than this. so why put all of this on display? well, i think the russian authorities have two aims here. the first is to reinforce the kremlin's narrative that in ukraine, the west is waging war against russia, even though it was russia that invaded ukraine. but there's also a big element of gloating here. the russians are increasingly confident about how the war is going, and their main message is written on a sign just over there. and it reads, "our

victory is inevitable". russia didn't invent the wheel here. in the past, ukraine has exhibited russian military hardware it captured on the front line. back in moscow, there may be confidence and captured armour, but that doesn't guarantee victory. the west has pledged more help for ukraine. russia has pledged to collect more trophies. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. thank you for watching bbc news. we will have more coverage of the campus protests coming up in the next hour. stay with us. hello. on wednesday evening in france, we saw some pretty nasty storms with hail and thunder, gusty winds, and they have been drifting towards us. if we look at the satellite picture over the radar superimposed, the rainfall, you can see these dark blue colors indicating

the very heavy rainfall and drifting in from the south towards the uk. so i think through the early hours we will have had some downpours. if they haven't reached you already, they may be on the way, but of course not everybody is going to get them. it's near enough impossible to exactly predict where the storms will be, but north of that, it's a completely different picture across northern england and scotland. some clear skies overnight. now let's have a look at the early hours. this is widespread rain in the south—west. i think the more vicious brief downpours with hail, thunder and lightning and flash flooding in places will be further towards the east. and some of these heavy showers may last through the morning and possibly pop off during the afternoon as well again around here. but by the time we get to northern england, northern ireland and scotland, it's mostly sunny, but note windy weather on the north sea coast, a chilly breeze. so it will keep things cool here. maybe only 12 degrees on the north sea coast, 20 possible elsewhere

across england. but i think the best of the weather for sure around the western isles with light winds and sunny skies. now, the weather front still with us on friday. i don't think that is going to be itself producing any thunder. the showers could be developing across more northern parts of england through the course of the day. and again, it's across the north and the north—west of scotland where we have the best of our weather once again, 20 degrees celsius. compare that to so many other major towns and cities, only around 13 or 14 degrees. and this does sometimes happen when we have easterly winds that sheltered part of western scotland tends to warm up in the sunshine. now, here's saturday. you can see a fairly cloudy picture with a few blobs of rain here and there, maybe sunnier skies for a time in the south. and the temperatures are recovering somewhat, typically the mid teens to the high teens. now, overall, the bank holiday weekend is looking quite mixed for most of us. temperatures stabilising around the average. i think the high teens across the south of the uk and not far off the average across many other parts of the uk, but for the time being, watch out for those

storms in the south.

voice-over: this is bbc news. awarning, our a warning, our next programme contains flashing images.

i think if i look back to when i came out, when i was 22 — a couple of years before, you know, gay marriage was a thing that you could do — the world that was around me or any person thinking about coming out then is so different to what a lot of people seem to experience now. there's a couple of teachers who are, like, lgbt—trained. i didn't come out till i was in my 205. yeah, that was a difficult, difficult time for me. i mean, i always knew- i was gay, so i actually saw all of my siblings get| married, one by one. and we've a decade since that law changed. society's changed, expectations have changed. i'm interested to know whether gay marriage has changed things as much as it seems like it might�*ve. there's still so much work to be done to try and fight

for our right to be able to get married in a church.