as the kremlin shows off the western military hardware it has managed to seize. thank you forjoining us. pro—palestinian protesters at the university of texas at dallas are openly defying authorities, gathering outside one of the main university buildings after police moved into their encampment. it's the latest clash as universities across the us grapple with protests triggered by the ongoing conflict in gaza. us media say at least 17 people were arrested and charged so far with trespassing for setting up an encampent on the texas campus. in new york — this is a live look at columbia university tonight where you can see a large crowd. police say they arrested about 300 protesters on tuesday during campus raids

at columbia university and the city university of new york. dozens of protesters had occupied a building on columbia's campus before police went in to apprehend them. police didn't say how many were students, but new york city mayor eric adams said there's evidence students have been influenced and trained by people not affiliated with columbia university. those who broke into the building did include students, it was led by individuals who are not affiliated with the university. they needed that the school needed the nypd's assistant to clear the hall and encampments outside. globally, there is a movement to radicalise young people and i'm not going to wait until it's done and all of a sudden acknowledge the existence of it. this is a global problem, young people are being influenced by those who are professionals add radicalise seeing our children and i'm not

going to allow that to happen as the mayor of the city of new york. 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 suspention 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? columbia university was seeing as the main harbour whether protest started and then inspired similar encampments around the country. protest can't continue inside the university in terms of the encampment, they have been taken number the police and the present of the university has stand down but what happens outside the university, we don't know, i suspect that protesters who were part of the pro—palestinian movement on about to give up advocating for their cause anytime soon and we know that the protesters, students who are part of the

encampment at the city college of university and columbia university are getting together is of a press conference and get an idea of whether movement will had next. barren mind, more than 100 students have been suspended, that include international students and i spoke to one student who said they didn't know why he had been suspended, he wasn't given and exposit reason, he had nothing to do with our building that was taken over by some protesters with they barricaded themselves that was the redline for the university of columbia and this person told me that international student is the suspension is confront, they could then face being kicked out of the uso there are a lot of students who are in limbo but as far as university is concerned, this was always about taking back control of the campus, they said they had no problem with the cause of the students but had a problem with the actions taken by some of them, they felt that it had become disruptive, the key day for them is may 15, that is when it's graduation day, they

said that they want seniors who were due to graduate to have their moment. the protesters who were in the encampment, on the same law where graduation due to take place as far as university is concerned, the confident that that may 15 date will go ahead for those who were graduating. on the west coast — 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 historic tongva steps. 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. california governor gavin newsom is calling for consequences for those who committed violence saying, "those who engage in illgal behavior must be held accountable for their actions, including through criminal prosecution, suspension, or expulsion." he also criticised what he called a "limited and delayed" law enforcement response to the violence, saying it was "unaccaptable" and that the response "demands answers." our los angeles correspondent emma vardy sent us this update from ucla earlier.

lots of teachers and students arrived here at ucla this morning but they found that classes were cancelled, exams were cancelled for students who were cancelled for students who were supposed to said those today, there was helicopter circling overhead, lots of police, heavy police presence here today. things are much, at

the moment but stark contrast to what the developer last night, real escalation of tensions between rival protesters between pro—palestinian demonstrators in the encampment behind me and pro— israel demonstrators who came to launch a counter demonstration here. those tensions boiled over late last night and escalated into violence between the two groups and it seems that at the time, 11 o'clock so last night, they were our non— security guards patrolling the campus but what happened was things as collated so quickly became violent at the police were then called in. the university called in the los angeles police, lapd, they came but it took several hours to eventually separate the two groups and calm things down. as a result, the campus has been brought to a standstill today. a lot of frustration from students who are not involved with any of the activism here but have found that their exams are cancelled, people who have been doing a lot of work to get ready for an important week in

their student term at the moment. what we've heard from university is some very strong condemnation of the violence which broke out last night. but saying that, it isn't really clear whether this is going to end, that encampment, well, it's going pretty strong behind me, they look very organised, they are dug into the long haul, it would when you go and have a look at what they've been up to, they have got their own barricades, the only leading activist in and out of a wristband system so pretty well organised but students walking through here have been telling us just how it affected their day—to—day lives, they are praise from jewish students, they felt threatened by the pro—palestinian protests which have been held here for a number of days. the universities have been really scrutinised about whether they are striking the right balance between allowing freedom of speech by protecting student life on campus two and because of those as galatians last

night, the scenes that we saw here at that time while and has been made even more difficult now for this university and many others to handle. live now to dov waxman, a professor at ucla who serves as the gilbert foundation chair of israel studies. very good to on bbc news tonight. i want to start with some of the images that we were coming in from the campus, students have been gathered on the steps, we have police have now arrived here, i do know how close you are to that scene but can you give us an idea of what is happening? i’m can you give us an idea of what is happening?— is happening? i'm not on the camus is happening? i'm not on the campus at — is happening? i'm not on the campus at the _ is happening? i'm not on the campus at the moment, - is happening? i'm not on the - campus at the moment, because it had been cancelled today but i think many students, many faculty and staff are ucla have come out in support of the students in the encampment because of the attack that took place against them last night which is really horrifying. i think many people across the entire campus community, no matter what their views were about the processing encampment of the demands of the protesters but the violence that they enjoyed, the attack that they enjoyed, the attack that was carried out last night

was absolutely appalling and i think across ucla's committee, there was outrage that scenes of violence could take place in the campus. of violence could take place in the campus-— of violence could take place in the campus. was condemnation from the governor. _ the campus. was condemnation from the governor. we - the campus. was condemnation from the governor. we are - the campus. was condemnation from the governor. we are still| from the governor. we are still can alive be just what i want to ask you, we are hearing from student media on campus as that the new cpd, the ucla police department has warned that the protesters need to leave or they do face arrest, can you just tell me a bit about what you think of that and the university's response up until now? ~ ., , now? well, initially, the university _ now? well, initially, the university tried - now? well, initially, the university tried very - now? well, initially, the| university tried very hard now? well, initially, the . university tried very hard to respond in different manner than some of the more heavy—handed draconian responses that we've seen and other university campuses at columbia but usc, they tried to allow this processing encampment to take place as long as it wasn't disrupting university life, as long as it wasn't creating an unsafe

environment, the want to respect the right of the students to protest. that's become very difficult particularly as a result of the actions of a small number of violent counter protest who really attacked the protesters themselves. so, ithink really attacked the protesters themselves. so, i think now the administration is in a very different position that he was just a few days ago where it was trying to keep calm, trying to enjoy everyone's safety and now, is a lot of pressure that the administration is facing, both on campus but i — outside campus for this encampment to be dismantled and for the police to be called in to do that. and it seems that the students and participating in this protest encampment are determined to stay there so unfortunately, i think that the situation continues to be very tense, as they await the actions really most likely of the local police, if they are going to be called in by the administration to clear the encampment. i hope it doesn't

happen in the situation can be resolved peacefully without those students facing arrest and i think the administration now is really in an impossible situation especially given the violence of last night. that would be _ violence of last night. that would be my _ violence of last night. that would be my question. - violence of last night. that would be my question. what anything that pressure on the administration is coming from, if these protests until now were in the early hours of the morning were mostly peaceful and that clash is being investigated, why do you think the universities under so much pressure to clear this encampment now? i pressure to clear this encampment now? i think is a coule encampment now? i think is a couple of _ encampment now? i think is a couple of factors. _ encampment now? i think is a couple of factors. first - encampment now? i think is a couple of factors. first of - couple of factors. first of all, the concern for safety and while we saw last night was something that was completely unacceptable and the administration is to be sure the safety of all students, both those inside but all the students and faculty is on campuses. it's a concern at the this is creating a dangerous environment essentially on the campus and the other concern that the administration has is to ensure the students, faculty and staff can go about their business, can take classes. today's classes were cancelled,

class won't happen in person tomorrow unlikely to go online but again, that cannot continue for long. the university has to continue to teach students, has to continue to do its business and if the processing encampment and the protest of the counter protest around it, making that impossible, the administration will be faced with no choice but to try to get this encampment ultimately disbanded. whether that can happen peacefully, i and fortunately i'm not very confident.— fortunately i'm not very confident. ~ ., ., confident. we will have to live the conversation _ confident. we will have to live the conversation there - confident. we will have to live the conversation there but. the conversation there but think you so much for your insight tonight. —— thank you so much forjoining us. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making 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 211,000 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 favor and 1a against. two republicans joined senate democrats to support the repeal bill. arizona state attorney general kris mayes called the vote, "a win for freedom in our state". 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. israel has reopened the main crossing into northern gaza — 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 are the kremlin�*s war trophies in moscow is flaunting them. put on display, western military hardware, all these items had been sent to help ukraine on the battlefield but was later captured by russia. including this, the husky, a british armoured vehicle now a museum piece in moscow. there are tanks to, this american had been badly damaged with 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.

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 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 ofan airstrike. 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 met with israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu injerusalem warning against a ground invasion of rafah — where1.4 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. live now to aaron david miller, senior fellow at the carnegie endowment for international peace. good to have you back. talk to us about hostage negotiations, hum masts rejected the lease agreement but is willing to give negotiating. what pressure

can antony blinken can move the stocks forwards? —— hum masts. the real question is, they succeed because both parties have a sense of urgency. there is another penal pressure accompanied by the prospect of game. that's why you get deals. unfortunately, the party that is an biggestjewry, with the biden administration. i think hamas understands that they've treated tunnels and hostages for time. treated tunnels and hostages fortime. if treated tunnels and hostages for time. if you look at the trajectory, the israelis have not accomplished the goals that are set out to do. i think the principal decision—maker understands this, if in fact hamas decides to accept the proposal, it'll be one that has much better terms and i'm not entirely persuaded now that the administration is basically raised the israeli offers quite extremely. it may be well

locked in and won't be able to exert much pressure on either side and i think that's the real dilemma here. can side and i think that's the real dilemma here.- side and i think that's the real dilemma here. can i ask ou, real dilemma here. can i ask you. when — real dilemma here. can i ask you. when you _ real dilemma here. can i ask you, when you say _ real dilemma here. can i ask you, when you say pain - real dilemma here. can i ask you, when you say pain or i you, when you say pain or pressure on both sides, the hamas health run ministry was more than 30,000 palestinians who have been killed since the war started, who have been killed since the warstarted, israel who have been killed since the war started, israel is still awaiting the release of more than 130 hostages who were held in gaza, how was that not applying the pain and pressure on both sides to try to come to an agreement?— on both sides to try to come to an agreement? part of hamas 's calculation — an agreement? part of hamas 's calculation was _ an agreement? part of hamas 's calculation was to _ an agreement? part of hamas 's calculation was to generate - an agreement? part of hamas 's calculation was to generate as l calculation was to generate as much internal suffering is a possibly could on a resident population. it's one of the reasons that hamas strategy succeeds. international community, the us is understandable is bringing tremendous pressure down on israeli government, on the israeli government, on the israeli prime minister, they are reports that the icc was even considering prosecuting arrest warrants. i'm not sure that hamas cares, frankly.

15,000, 12 - 15,000 that hamas cares, frankly. 15,000, 12 —15,000 versus 34,000 that hamas controlled is reporting to have died our combatants. as far as the israeli government is concerned, i'm not sure this much urgency there either because benjamin netanyahu was on trial for a broad because benjamin netanyahu was on trialfor a broad body in breach of trust. there is no incentive to cut a deal and may essentially mean the dissolving of his coalition.— of his coalition. where does that leave _ of his coalition. where does that leave the _ of his coalition. where does that leave the us _ of his coalition. where does that leave the us then? - of his coalition. where does that leave the us then? a l that leave the us then? thousand palestinian prisoners. it is not going to go down well with the extreme israeli. word is that leave _ with the extreme israeli. word is that leave the _ with the extreme israeli. word is that leave the biden - is that leave the biden administration at this point? high and dry and the reality is the only level they have their, the only level they have their, the only level they have their, the only instrument that gives extricate the administration, they manage terrien to gaza deescalating the israeli military campaign and may be laying the groundwork for some broader regional peace initiative is the steel. and

right now, it unavailable and that's the tragedy for the hostages, tragedy for the million palestinians and it's a tragedy for anybody who believes, as i do, in a much better pathway for israelis and palestinians. brute better pathway for israelis and palestinians.— palestinians. we 'ust have about a minute _ palestinians. we just have about a minute left, - palestinians. we just have about a minute left, can i palestinians. we just have l about a minute left, can you quickly tell us if you think the israelis are going to go into rafah and go ahead with this offensive? i into rafah and go ahead with this offensive?— this offensive? i think that if the hostage _ this offensive? i think that if the hostage deal— this offensive? i think that if the hostage deal doesn't - this offensive? i think that if. the hostage deal doesn't come, the hostage deal doesn't come, the israelis will have a ground campaign into rafah. it is unclear but it will be extremely fraught for those million plus palestinians who were not original residents of rafah. the situation is going to get worse before it gets worse. ,, ., ., ., worse. senior fellow at the carnegie — worse. senior fellow at the carnegie endowment - worse. senior fellow at the carnegie endowment for i carnegie endowment for international peace, they get so much forjoining us on the programme today. we appreciate it. before we gumma let's see if we

can bring the live images from ucla in california where have seen protesters, you see them gathering at the steps, they are vowing to stay there at their encampment, we know that their encampment, we know that the police of ucla have told them they must leave or face arrest, this isjust another example of these protest was seen popping up at universities across the country and important to note that the early hours of wednesday morning, students are ucla witnessed a violent clash with pro—palestinian and and type protest demonstrations so that a sum that we are watching closely, more for you at the top of the next summer, because a much for watching. top of the next summer, because a much forwatching. —— top of the next summer, because a much for watching. —— thank you so much for watching. 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.

the us federal reserve keeps the cost of borrowing unchanged, as inflation proves to be more persistent than expected.

with india's election in full swing, we examine how women are playing a key role in that mammoth vote. hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm steve lai. america's central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 5.25% to 5.5%, as stubbornly high inflation continues to hold off the timing of the first rate cut. the decision, which was expected, comes days after new government data showed that the pace of us economic growth is slowing. bbc�*s north america business correspondent michelle fleury has the details. stubborn inflation pushes back the timing of the first rate cut. the us federal reserve voted to keep its benchmark lending rate at a 23—year high on wednesday. officials have said they want more certainty that inflation is under control before they lower borrowing costs. they don't have that yet.

here is chair, jerome powell, during his press conference.