missiles narrowly miss a hospital in kharkiv — in the latest russian attack as the pentagon says it will �*rush' air defence missiles to ukraine. british troops could be deployed on the ground in gaza to help deliver aid via a new sea route. south africa celebrates freedom day — 30 years since the end of apartheid and its first democratic elections. a great heaviness lifted from our shoulders. our shackles have been cast off. and taylor swift matches a madonna chart record. we'll tell you why. hello. i'm catherine byaruhanga. the ukrainian military says russia carried out another massive air attack overnight.

the mayor of kharkiv — ukraine's second city — said a missile narrowly missed a hospital with 1,000 people inside. attacks also took place in the dnipro region in central ukraine — and in the western areas of lviv and ivano—frankivsk. ukrainian officials say equipment has been damaged and at least one energy worker injured. russia has repeatedly targeted ukrainian energy infrastructure over recent months. it's attacks such as these that have led to more us aid for ukraine. the united states has outlined what will be included in a $6 billion package of military assistance. it's part of a larger $60 billion commitment which was approved by congress a week ago following six months of delays. the package will focus on air defence and includes interceptor missiles, anti—drone systems and artillery ammunition. what's not included are the new patriot air defence batteries,

which ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky says are critical. the us defence secretary, lloyd austin, has been speaking about the importance of the aid. the outcome in ukraine will determine the trajectory of our times. if putin prevails in ukraine, the security consequences would be grave and global. europe would face a security threat it hasn't seen in our lifetimes. as president biden has noted, russia will not stop in ukraine. if the kremlin gets its way, if putin's war of imperial aggression succeeds, every tyrant on earth will take note. ivan verstyuk is a journalist based in kyiv. i asked him about the latest attacks by russia — as well as reports of drone attacks by ukraine on an oil refinery in southern russia. it's pretty clear that russians are hurrying up to increase pressure on ukrainian energy infrastructure

before new air defence systems and new supplies for air defence get installed. so russians are using this period of time to do the rest of their plans to our energy system. so it's going to be harder for ukrainian business and the population to survive this year of war. in this way russians want to make ukrainians more thinking about, maybe we should sign a peace agreement or something, because our energy infrastructure is so badly damaged. and with ukrainian drones targeting russian oil refineries in some of the western region of that country, this is also very important because those two oil refineries are directly involved in russian military logistics and resupplying russian troops in eastern ukraine with all kinds of fuel. so this direct military target, and what's also important is that we know well that vladimir putin, the russian leader, mostly doesn't pay any attention to russian economic crisis or any western economic sanctions.

to him, this is not a priority. but the only economic indicator that he pays attention to is inflation and price growth. and i'm sorry to cut you off. i know our time is going to run out shortly. i just wanted to ask you about this us military aid package for ukraine. i just want to ask you about the reaction there when the us announced it was not going to send these patriot air defence batteries to ukraine as part of this package. what's the reaction there? 0verall, despite having problems with getting more patriot systems to ukraine, all of our weapons are going to be resupplied with this recent us assistance package — anti—tank weapons, anti—aircraft weapons, all kinds of artillery. so people generally now feel much easier because the general expectation is the russians will belong another big advance in may orjune. that's why they're concentrating their military personnel and also

firepower, mostly in eastern ukraine. so that change the new supply line. it changes the mood of people who now feel substantially safer, expecting of what's going to be happening next. and also, its really important to resupply our troops, especially in eastern ukraine, where the intensity of fighting is the highest among all of it. there've been developments in ceasefire negotiations between israel and hamas — with both sides continuing to review proposals. egyptian mediators have arrived in israel — and local media are reporting there's been "notable progress" in finding common ground. in gaza itself, the hamas—run health agency says at least 50 people have been killed in israeli attacks over the past 2a hours. this was the scene in

rafah on friday night. the bbc has learnt that british troops could be deployed on the ground in gaza to help deliver aid via a new sea route. aid would be delivered from cyprus on large ships before being transferred into trucks and smaller landing craft. the floating causeway would be "several hundred metres long" and anchored firmly into the sand. the united states has decided not to put american boots on the ground. let's get more on all of this — with our diplomatic correspondent james landale who's injerusalem. james, could you tell us more about this plan that is being discussed thatis this plan that is being discussed that is sending some british troops to gaza. this is going to be a huge and complicated logistical exercise. the american say that about 1000 of their servicemen and women will be involved. they are making a floating platform in the sea. there will be a

causeway attached to the beach. there will be a complex. the american say they will not drive the trucks down the causeway onto the beach into the holding area that the israelis say they are going to secure, where the aid will be off—loaded and distributed through gaza by the aid agencies. that is because the american say they will because the american say they will be no us boots on the ground. somebody has got to drive these trucks. the uk is considering a possibility that they might send troops to do that. it is only a possibility, just an option. no decision has been taken. this hasn't been past the prime minister's desk. it is being considered as an option. the thing is, there are potential risks. whoever is driving those trucks, they will be going in harm's way because they will be on the beach, on the shore and garzo, potentially at risk to attacks from hamas and other armed groups, if they choose to attack. it is a big decision for whoever decides to take on this task. fix, decision for whoever decides to take

on this task-— on this task. a big decision and, as we mentioned, _ on this task. a big decision and, as we mentioned, there _ on this task. a big decision and, as we mentioned, there have - on this task. a big decision and, as we mentioned, there have been i we mentioned, there have been developments in the mediation, the talks, to try to reach an agreement and ceasefire between israel and hamas. what more can you tell us on this? , ,., , ., hamas. what more can you tell us on this? _, , ., , ., this? everybody in gaza is waiting for the promised _ this? everybody in gaza is waiting for the promised military - this? everybody in gaza is waiting l for the promised military operation by israeli forces in rafah in the south. in the meantime talks are still continuing about the possibility of agreeing a ceasefire, the release of the israeli hostages and the release of some palestinian prisoners. these talks have been going on for many weeks and months, with very little progress. but they are continuing. we know egyptian negotiators and officials were here in jerusalem yesterday. negotiators and officials were here injerusalem yesterday. we know and mass weather has announced this morning that it has received the latest israeli offer. there is a big conference going on in saudi arabia this weekend at which they may be some conversations in the margins. those talks continue. but we had a lot of talking and not much agreeing

so far. up until this point there have still been a huge gap between all sides. whether we can actually make some progress i think very much depends on what happens in the next few days. depends on what happens in the next few da s. ., ~' , depends on what happens in the next fewda s. ., ~ , . few days. thank you very much, james, few days. thank you very much, james. that _ few days. thank you very much, james. that is — few days. thank you very much, james, that is the _ few days. thank you very much, james, that is the bbc's - few days. thank you very much, james, that is the bbc's james | james, that is the bbc�*s james landale injerusalem. let's get more now on our top story. ukraine says russia has carried out another massive air attack overnight, hitting four thermal power plants in three regions. let's get more on all of this with our ukraine correspondent, james waterhouse. james, just bring us up—to—date on what you know about this overnight attack. , , what you know about this overnight attack. _ , ., ., , ., attack. even by the standards of this war this _ attack. even by the standards of this war this was _ attack. even by the standards of this war this was a _ attack. even by the standards of this war this was a night - attack. even by the standards of this war this was a night of - attack. even by the standards of this war this was a night of busy| this war this was a night of busy skies where you have the ukrainian authorities saying russia launched 34 authorities saying russia launched 3a missiles from land, sea and air, and it was a large—scale attack where you have these power stations

reportedly hit on the far westerly parts of ukraine, as well as in the east around the eastern city of dnipro. as well as kharkiv city in the north—east, where we are told a psychiatric hospital was narrowly missed, with 1000 people inside. president zelensky has used the strikes to renew his pleas for air defence systems. yes, there is western aid coming in, but he is saying that western allies have the resources to stop every russian missile from hitting ukrainian targets. he has used that political opportunity. but this wasn't a night of one—way traffic. you have russian authorities in the southern region saying they intercepted more than 60 drones launched by ukraine. they say two oil refineries were hit and there are reports that an airbase two. the us warned ukraine about hitting energy sites inside russia, over fears of energy price rises and an escalation in this war. it is

clear from last an escalation in this war. it is clearfrom last night an escalation in this war. it is clear from last night that kyiv still does not staring to live sharing those concerns. we also heafina sharing those concerns. we also hearing of— sharing those concerns. we also hearing of this _ sharing those concerns. we also hearing of this military - sharing those concerns. we also hearing of this military aid - sharing those concerns. we also i hearing of this military aid package the is sending to ukraine. there are different kinds of missiles, artillery, ammunition. but crucially it won't include the patriot air defence batteries. what are people making of that decision from the united states? this making of that decision from the united states?— united states? this patriot ammunition _ united states? this patriot ammunition will _ united states? this patriot ammunition will be - united states? this patriot i ammunition will be welcomed united states? this patriot _ ammunition will be welcomed because russia is able, with its deeper ammunition stockpiles, to sustain these kinds of attacks. but there will be a degree of political frustration, because kyiv is well defended, relatively speaking, when it comes to air defences. it has a patriot air defence system that can keep the city relatively safer than others, like 0desa, and kharkiv, which we have talked about. what ukraine wants, is far more of these batteries, these systems, to place

next to cities to keep them safe. it is interesting that the us has neglected to do so. we also have countries like greece, which has refused to provide its own missile launch systems for ukraine, saying, essentially, that they need them for their own defences. this ammunition are steps partly needed by ukraine and it will be welcomed. when it comes to air defences you need the system is to launch them from ukraine says, from the front line or to keep city safe. you will see no doubts and political frustration, but right now ukraine says it needs this ammunition yesterday. it is thought to arrive within days, we are told. , ., , ., ~ thought to arrive within days, we are told. , ., , . ~' ,, thought to arrive within days, we are told. , ., , ., ~' ,, ., , are told. james, thank you. that is the bbc's ukraine _ are told. james, thank you. that is the bbc's ukraine correspondent, l the bbc�*s ukraine correspondent, james waterhouse, in the donetsk region. south africa is marking 30 years since the end of apartheid and the country's first democratic elections. leading the main cermony in pretoria, president cyril ramaphosa has said freedom day will unite the country in celebrating

its democraticjourney. the events come at a difficult time for the governing african national congress. south africa is preparing for elections next month, and is experiencing failing infrastructure and high levels of crime and unemployment. analysts say the deteriorating conditions might endanger the anc�*s majority for the first time. president ramaphosa outlined what the end of apartheid — and the first free elections — meant for the country. on that day, as we cast our votes for the first time, a great heaviness lifted from our shoulders. 0ur shackles have been cast off. the shackles that have tied us down for hundreds of years. the weight of centuries of oppression was no longer holding us down.

even though our backs bore scars of the cruel lashes of those who had whipped and subjected us for more than 300 years — on that day, as a united people we stood tall, as south africans. 0ur correspondentjenny hill is following freedom day celebrations from johannesburg. we have been listening to president cyril ramaphosa speaking at the commemorative events. it is a very stirring speech that he has been giving. he said that freedom's bell 30 years ago rang across this great country, and that the weight of centuries of oppression were finally thrown off. this is a big day for this country. it is an opportunity for many to, first of all, think back to the suffering which many endured under the apartheid regime, and to commemorate those who fought against it and ultimately won,

but also too, to recall the joy and hope that so many people here felt when nelson mandela and his anc party swept to victory in that first democratic election. the current president has been reminding people that it was a moment of, if you like, rebirth — there was a new flag, a new constitution. in many ways, a very new country. you are quite right. it is a country which faces enormous challenges and cyril ramaphosa is extremely well aware of that. this kind of historic anniversary is often a chance for people to make comparisons with how life was then and how life is now. that mood of hope about the future 30 years ago, felt by so many people, contrasts now with, i think, a real sense of, certainly not optimism. a lot of people here really concerned about where this country is. massive worries about infrastructure.

electricity and water infrastructure simply doesn't work much of the time. it is failing. crime and unemployment are huge issues. cyril ramaphosa faces a potentially and extremely bruising election in just over a month's time. his party, which has been in power uninterrupted for 30 years, ever since that first democratic election, is not looking like it's going to perform as well as it would like to, and some polls — in fact a polljust overnight — predicting it will lose its majority. one of the interesting things about these commemorations is that, among the dignitaries gathered, the former president, thabo mbeki, one figure is missing and that is jacob zuma, the disgraced former south african president, mr ramaphosa's predecessor. he is no longer a member of the anc. he has thrown his political weight behind a newly—formed opposition party, which takes its name and indeed its logo from the now

disbanded armed wing of the anc. he has become a real thorn in the side of the anc. jenny hill there. now it's time for a look at today's sport with gavin ramjaun. let's start with another busy saturday in the premier league, with liverpool hoping to get their title ambitions back on track after that midweek loss to everton. they're at west ham. they have gone 1—0 down. here is a check on all of today's matches. fulham host in—form crystal palace. strugglers burnley are at old trafford to face manchester united. sheffield united will be relegated if they lose to newcastle, and could go down if they draw and other results go against them. they are 10 points off nottingham forest in 17th with four games left. luton have a crucial one at wolves — a win would take them out of the bottom three. there are two matches later on as well in the later games.

among the other matches manchester united will hope to boost their bid for european football next season when they take on burnley at old trafford. despite reaching the fa cup final next month rio ferdinand has been underwhelmed by his former club's season so far if you go back to last season and the way the season finished last year, i was so optimistic, and i was looking forward to the new season. erik ten hag is the man. but they could be many reasons — injury, loss of form and whatnot. but itjust hasn't gone that well this year. there have been huge amounts of injuries but we need to see the team finish in a lot better state than what it is now, i think, for the merger to go... he is the guy for next year. there's a huge night ahead, in the women's champions league at a sold out stamford bridge. chelsea hold a 1—0 lead over barcelona going into the second leg of their semi—final. emma hayes knows that despite having the advantage, it's still a big task ahead of them. barcelona can hurt you in so many different ways that, for us as a

team, we have to be so, so mindful that you can't switch off for one single session. this is a game that is played in the head, first and foremost, and, you know, we know that we have to be perfect to be able to progress. in the nba play offs on friday indiana pacers seized a 2—1 lead in their best—of—seven series against the milwaukee bucks, while minnesota timberwolves will aim for a clean sweep in their series against the phoenix suns. the timberwolves won their latest game 126—109. and over in dallas, the mavericks took a 2—1 lead in theirfirst—round playoff series against the la clippers. luka doncic was the mavericks star man with 22 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. game 4 is set for sunday in dallas. and in the last half an hour or so judd trump has become the latest player to make it into the quarter finals of the world snooker championship. the 2019 champion trump resumed 11—5

up against tom ford and duly wrapped up the match 13—7. in this morning's other second round match, stephen maguire leads shaun murphy by eight frames to six. in rugby union, it all comes down to today, to decide the women's six nations. england play france in bordeaux at teatime. it's winner takes all. the red roses have not lost in the competition for 28 games, but their last defeat was away against france in 2018. the girls are really looking forward to just putting the performance out on the pitch, and the players that have not played in a hostile environment like this, it's for the senior players to put their arm around, checking on them, and, you know, just remember to enjoy the moment however the moment is, because you don't know when it's your last. ireland take on scotland with third place and a spot in the world cup at stake. but first up wales are hosting italy, the visitors leading 7—5. the welsh are bottom of the table and need at least a bonus—point win over italy to avoid what would be a first wooden spoon.

now in golf, how about this from 23 year old american auston kim, at thejm eagle la, championship in california. here she is at the eighteenth hole. earlier in the day another american alexa pano had managed a hole—in—one on the par—312th not to be outdone kim managed this her first hole in one or �*ace' as they're known at the eighteenth. kim is tied fifth, seven shots behind leader australian grace kim. what a shop that is. and that's all the sport for now. in an attempt to save his political career, scotland's first minister, humza yousaf, has invited the leaders of other scottish parties to talks in an attempt to find �*common ground'. he reportedly wrote to the leaders on friday night. mr yousaf is insisting he will not resign despite a tumultuous week. here's a quick recap of what's happened.

the crisis began when mr yousaf — who leads the scottish national party — ended its governing coalition with the scottish greens. both parties are pro scottish independence. there'd been trouble in the coalition over the decision to scrap climate targets — and gender policy issues. theoretically, mr yousaf could lead a minority government but he faces a confidence vote in his leadership and all the main scottish parties say they will vote against him. there is also expected to be a confidence vote in his government. there's the possibility that a former snp member ash regan, who defected to another nationalist party, could save mr yousaf. but that's highly uncertain. the big picture in all of this is that the position of the scottish national party is weakening with uk elections due. and that also has implications for the likelihood of scottish independence. let's get some of the day's other news now. a british man has been seriously injured in a shark attack on the caribbean island of tobago.

the attack happened close to the shore in courland bay. the 64—year—old man is in intensive care after his left hand and left thigh were severed by a bull shark. seven beaches were closed to allow the coast guard to investigate. several countries in east africa are experiencing severe flooding and landslides. at least 150 people were killed in tanzania and 70 were killed in kenya. nearly 100,000 people have been displaced in burundi. the region has seen heavier rainfall than usual in recent weeks, exacerbated by the el nino weather pattern. a hole in the ozone layer over antarctica — fuelled by smoke from bushfires in australia — is exposing wildlife to protentially damaging levels of uv light. scientists from the university of wollongong say animals and plants are having to put more energy into avoiding the rays. here's our science correspondent, victoria gill. the ozone layer that protects

us from the sun's most harmful rays is healing, gradually, but in antarctica, in cold, high—atmospheric clouds, a hole in that layer still appears every year. that ozone thinning, or loss, used to peak in september or october, when animals and plants are tucked under winter snow and marine animals are protected by sea ice. but it's now lingering until december, well into the antarctic summer, when wildlife is much more vulnerable. researchers say that has been driven in part by smoke from the australian wildfires in 2019 and 2020, which were fuelled by climate change. the researchers found evidence that antarctic plants might have to put more energy into producing their own protective sunscreen compounds, and krill, the marine crustaceans that are the foundation of the food chain in antarctica, move deeper into the ocean to avoid ultraviolet rays, while penguins and seals are protected by protective feathers and fur,

scientists say exposure to damaging rays could harm their eyesight. the researchers say we can no longer take the recovery of the ozone layer for granted. it is more evidence, they point out, that carbon emissions have to be reduced quickly so that more bushfires don't put extra pressure on a vital shield in our atmosphere. victoria gill, bbc news. taylor swift has matched madonna's record of 12 number one albums in the uk — the most by a female artist. "the tortured poets department" had the american singer's best—ever first week sales in the uk — and the highest first week sales for any artist since 2017. her next target in the history books is elvis presley, who had 13 number one albums. the beatles hold the record with 16. you're watching bbc news with catherine byaruhanga. you can go to our website for more headlines. i will be back after the short break.

hello there. there's certainly going to be winners and losers with the weather story for the rest of the day. the best of the sunshine so far has been in the far north and west, but most of us under this influence of low pressure, and this weather front ahead of the main low, well, that has brought some outbreaks of rain. it's weakening all the time as it drift its way steadily northwards, a band of cloud and drizzle. so the best of the sunshine certainly has been in north—west scotland, just take a look at the western isles early on this morning. for scotland, for northern ireland and northern england as we go through the afternoon, it's a case of sunny spells and scattered showers, but we keep that cloud and drizzle across the midlands and into north wales. slowly brightening up south of the m4 corridor, but that in turn could trigger off one or two sharp, thundery downpours. temperatures today generally across the country a little below par for the time of year, so still that disappointing feel 9—11; degrees. but it will turn a little milder at the weekend continues. but it will also turn wetter through the evening and overnight

as we see more rain spilling its way up from the channel and spreading across eastern england. here we'll see temperatures holding up, but to the far north and west under those clearing skies, low enough once again for a touch of frost. but it's this low pressure that will bring some wet and increasingly windy weather, but it's also bringing some milder weather with it as well as the wind direction changes to more of a southerly or south—easterly. so a spell of heavy rain which will linger across north—east england and eastern scotland. west will be best through the afternoon. it'll be windy with the cloud and rain, and as a consequence, the temperatures really disappointing once again, 7—10 degrees, highest values of 13, possibly 1a. now, as we move into monday, not a bad start, and with that wind direction still coming from the south, some sunshine and some warmth. yes, it will turn cloudier and wetter from the west as we go through the day, but in that sunshine we could see temperatures peaking at 16, and it should feel quite pleasant, particularly in comparison to of late. warmer still as we go

to the middle part of the week. this area of low pressure will bring outbreaks of rain at times, but we're tapping into a south—easterly wind direction, and that will continue to drive in some warmer air, so temperatures just a little above where they should be for this time of year, but don't expect anything too dry, settled or sunny.

this is bbc news. the headlines. ukraine says russia has carried out another air attack, narrowly missing a hospital. the us says it will "rush" patriot air defence missiles and ammunition to ukraine as part of its new $6 billion military aid package. scotland's first minister seeks to save his political career, inviting leaders of other parties to talks, hoping to change their plans to oust him. humza yousaf insists he won't resign despite a week of political turmoil. wildlife in antarctica is being exposed to potentially damaging levels of ultraviolet light because of a hole in the ozone layer caused in part by australian bushfires. scientists say animals and plants are at risk from the rays.