live from london. this is bbc news. fierce fighting in ukraine's kharkiv region, as russia launches a surprise attack. a man is sentenced to life for the murder of a pc who was shot 20 years ago. israel's prime minister vows — to press ahead with the offensive in rafah — in defiance of us calls for restraint. a bbc investigation tracks down one of europe's most wanted criminals — known as "the scorpion" — whose admitted trafficking thousands of people to the continent. and — harry accompanies his wife meghan — at the start of an informal tour of nigeria.

hello, i'm matthew amroliwala, welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. we start this hour in ukraine — because president zelensky says, a fierce battle is under way in the kharkiv region, after russia launched a surprise attack. small groups of troops with armoured vehicles pushed through the front line — military sources say they advanced a kilometre, before being pushed back — there are reports of sustained russian shelling. ukraine's defence ministry says, reinforcements have been sent to the region. here's president zelensky. russia started a new wave of offensive actions in the kharkiv region. ukrainianforces offensive actions in the kharkiv region. ukrainian forces met them there with brigades and artillery fire. it is important to understand that they can increase and bring more forces in this direction. it is a fact. let's get the latest from our ukraine correspondent james waterhouse.

this appears to have taken ukraine by surprise. i this appears to have taken ukraine by surprise-— by surprise. i think that kyiv would disa . ree by surprise. i think that kyiv would disagree with _ by surprise. i think that kyiv would disagree with that, _ by surprise. i think that kyiv would disagree with that, what _ by surprise. i think that kyiv would disagree with that, what they - by surprise. i think that kyiv would disagree with that, what they are i disagree with that, what they are saying is that we were anticipating a operation such as this, they are nevertheless having to move reserve troops into the north—eastern kharkiv region. it is centring around our town where 3000 people live, and are currently being evacuated. it has long been anticipated for the past few weeks that russia will try to mount some kind of offensive in this area, around 35,000 troops are thought to have gathered across the border inside russia. i think we are some way short of that, but moscow has been pretty upfront about its desire to establish a so—called buffer zone to establish a so—called buffer zone to increase the gap between the troops. ukrainian forces have been

increasingly shelling the russian region to the slight nervousness of western allies. clearly, russia wants to increase that gap but fighting is about shaping as well. if you have these russian forces drawing ukrainian troops, trying to make further incursions, if they were to deploy them further behind it could amount to something more. i don't think many ukrainian or or western circles are expecting the city of kharkiv itself, the second—biggest city to fall. simply because the number of russian troops we are talking about andy losses that have been sustained so far. briefly, where are we when it comes to weapons? we know that deadlock in washington was broken recently, where are we when it comes to ukraine defending itself? it is where are we when it comes to ukraine defending itself? it is a bit murky at — ukraine defending itself? it is a bit murky at the _ ukraine defending itself? it is a bit murky at the moment, - ukraine defending itself? it is a bit murky at the moment, we i ukraine defending itself? it is a - bit murky at the moment, we know some of that western health is

arriving. we don't know what. 0ne arriving. we don't know what. one would imagine it would be mostly artillery shells because americans had their stockpiles in europe itself, this unlocking of western aid won't be realised immediately and wants it all arrives, does medium range missiles, air defence systems to counter air superiority, the goal of ukraine is simply to symbolise the front the goal of ukraine is simply to symbolise the fron- the goal of ukraine is simply to symbolise the front thank you. let's no live to symbolise the front thank you. let's go live to leeds _ symbolise the front thank you. let's go live to leeds court _ symbolise the front thank you. let's go live to leeds court house, - symbolise the front thank you. let's go live to leeds court house, the i go live to leeds court house, the police giving their reaction after the man who shot and killed the female pc has been sentenced to a0 years. female pc has been sentenced to 40 ears. �* ., , female pc has been sentenced to 40 ears. ~ . , . female pc has been sentenced to 40 ears. . , , years. against the police officers there is no _ years. against the police officers there is no hiding _ years. against the police officers there is no hiding place. - years. against the police officers there is no hiding place. we - years. against the police officers there is no hiding place. we will| there is no hiding place. we will hunt you down where ever you seek to hide and we will find you, we will bring you tojustice. hide and we will find you, we will bring you to justice. i would like to thank people who have been

helpful over the last 20 years, the original investigation team who did a first—class investigation, the subsequent generations of detectives who have handed on the pattern of responsibility to hunt down the killers. right up to the team in the present day who have worked tirelessly for the past eight years to extradite the suspects from pakistan. alongside us, our colleagues from the cps who have been with us every step of the journey, our colleagues from the national crime agency who worked behind the scenes to locate him and bring him back. colleagues in the foreign and home office and also the officials in pakistan who helped us navigate some uncharted waters in terms of foreign jurisdictions and global politics. i think it has shown that it is a team effort, justice is everywhere, regardless of

global politics or international judicial boundaries. lastly, most importantly, i would like to thank theirfamilies of sharon importantly, i would like to thank their families of sharon beshenivsky and teresa for all their patients and teresa for all their patients and putting their confidence and trust in us. i know it has been hard for you all these years, hopefully now this result can hopefully give you some closure which has been long awaited. next year marks the 20th anniversary of sharon's passing. we will celebrate that in terms of a memorial service for sharon, as we do for all ourfallen memorial service for sharon, as we do for all our fallen colleagues. we will always remember her and keep her close in our hearts. thank you. as a police officer, this must have hit home — as a police officer, this must have hit home more _ as a police officer, this must have hit home more and _ as a police officer, this must have hit home more and to _ as a police officer, this must have hit home more and to see - as a police officer, this must havel

hit home more and to see 20 years leter— hit home more and to see 20 years later this _ hit home more and to see 20 years later this conviction, _ hit home more and to see 20 years later this conviction, how _ hit home more and to see 20 years later this conviction, how does - hit home more and to see 20 years later this conviction, how does it i later this conviction, how does it make _ later this conviction, how does it make you — later this conviction, how does it make you feel_ later this conviction, how does it make you feel as _ later this conviction, how does it make you feel as a _ later this conviction, how does it make you feel as a police - later this conviction, how does iti make you feel as a police officer? it is make you feel as a police officer? it is one _ make you feel as a police officer? it is one of— make you feel as a police officer? it is one of those _ make you feel as a police officer? it is one of those moments- make you feel as a police officer? it is one of those moments whenl make you feel as a police officer? - it is one of those moments when many of us remember where we were when it happened, it feels like yesterday. i was a young detective at the time and i remember it. ithink was a young detective at the time and i remember it. i think it is really sad when police officers are attacked and killed, so it is important that we get justice and justices seem to be done. i think we have seen that hour justices seem to be done. i think we have seen tha— have seen that how do you feel? relief, tinged — have seen that how do you feel? relief, tinged with _ have seen that how do you feel? relief, tinged with satisfaction, | relief, tinged with satisfaction, necessarily all those emotions are bought back again because we have to relive the details that has been tucked away for 20 years. 0verwhelmingly relief and satisfaction.

there the police answering a couple of questions, talking in the end of their satisfaction and the outcome today that jail term, their satisfaction and the outcome today thatjail term, a minimum of 40 years for piran ditta khan, the ringleader of the gang, paying tribute to the family of sharon beshenivsky and her colleagues on the day. forjust the strength they have had to endure for over 20 years to reach today. talking about their relief about getting to this moment, tinged with the sadness of having to relive the awful details of that day. the latest news conference from the police after the conclusion of that court case. israel's prime minister has said again — he intends — to press ahead with its assault on rafah in the gaza strip. us presidentjoe biden has repeatedly warned against the operation, saying that it would cross a "red line"— but benjamin netanyahu says he hopes to overcome his differences

with the president. more than a million palestinians are sheltering in the city — and america has already �*paused' a shipment of munitions, in protest at israel's plans. the israel defense forces, say, they have enough weaponry for an assault — and an attack, is the only way to fully defeat hamas. paul adams has the latest, from jerusalem. the fifth day of israel's ground operation in the south. israel still calling this "limited" — troops yet to enter rafah's overcrowded streets. but tanks and troops are massed nearby. the threat of an all—out assault still feels real. joe biden has warned israel not to do it and threatened to withhold weapons, but israel's prime minister says he's determined to destroy what is left of hamas. you know, we often had our agreements, but we've had our disagreements. we've been able to overcome them. i hope we can overcome them now, but we will do what we have to do to protect our country. israel is heavily dependent

on american weaponry with the ministry of defence celebrating the arrival of everything from jeeps to smart bombs. joe biden's threat to suspend deliveries carries rare symbolic weight, but how much does it really matter? when we speak about difficulties within the idf, it would be for the long range or the medium one. for tomorrow war in gaza or tomorrow more war in lebanon, if it will happen, that will not make any difference. this week has seen a fresh wave of palestinians fleeing the fighting. most have moved multiple times before, the war following wherever they go. some are going north, searching for scraps of open ground, often by the sea. places without any basic services. "we take water from the sea for our children," soumya says. "there are no bathrooms, no food, no tents. "look at the children.

"they haven't had any breakfast or even seen food." seven months of war have totally upended life in the gaza strip, displacing most of the population, creating vast new refugee camps. with ceasefire talks still deadlocked, this desperate movement looks set to continue. paul adams, bbc news, jerusalem. the bbc has tracked down — one of europe's most wanted �*people smugglers' barzan majeed — nicknamed the scorpion. speaking from northern iraq, he defended arranging for thousands of people, to travel to the uk, in small boats and lorries, arguing migrants are begging him for help. 0ur reporter sue mitchell is part of the team that tracked him down. shejoins me now. just how did you do it, how did you tracking down? 50. just how did you do it, how did you tracking down?— just how did you do it, how did you trackin: down? , , ., , tracking down? so, his phone number was found on —

tracking down? so, his phone number was found on the _ tracking down? so, his phone number was found on the phones _ tracking down? so, his phone number was found on the phones of— tracking down? so, his phone number was found on the phones of migrantsl was found on the phones of migrants and my partner is a former british army officer and he has contacts in the migrant camps both in europe and the migrant camps both in europe and the middle east and we set off to try and find the scorpion, starting in nottingham where he used to live. we're searching for the boss of one of the biggest smuggling gangs in europe. he calls himself scorpion. he's on the run and he's wanted by crime agencies across europe. we finally track him down, after eight months. a search that began in nottingham, through france, belgium and turkey, then finally to iraq, where rob and i meet him face—to—face. he sets out to rob shocking claims about how many people he's smuggled into the uk. may be 1,000, maybe 10,000, i don't know, i didn't count. thousands of passengers had your number in their phones. i'm telling you, yeah. you're right, what you are saying. nobody forced them, they wanted to.

they are begging, they are begging the smugglers, please, do this, do this for us. you know, right, you know that smuggling through europe is illegal and highly dangerous — you know that? of course. and yet, you did it? i'm telling you, i've done those kind of things, i've done it. the rise in these gangs has led to even more people attempting dangerous channel crossings in small boats. the haunting words of six—year—old miley. she was rescued from a dinghy as it was sinking in the channel. others are not so lucky. listening to that, he was quite brazen in what he was telling you, where are the authorities in this?

we have passed his location on to the authorities, barzan majeed received a ten year sentence in the belgian courts, he was on the run so the sentence is outstanding. it is a difficult situation because we have tracked big mac tracked him down with iraq which has no extradition treaty. it creates a lot of problems authorities in europe and they're going to try to negotiate with iraqi authorities to get him back. as you heard, these children and families are still making these dangerous journeys and barzan majeed is still living a life of luxury in iraq and he should face the authorities and justice should be seen to be done. thank you very much for taking us through that. you can hear the full story in a new podcast series. "�*intrigue,' to catch a scorpion' — you'll find it on bbc sounds or wherever you listen to podcasts.

coming up — we'll have the latest from donald trump's hush money trial in new york. we'll speak live to our correspondent — and a republican lawyer watching the case. and — harry and meghan — begin a three—day visit to nigeria. we'll have the latest from the capital, abuja. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

you are live with bbc news. let's head to new york. donald trump's hush—money trial has resumed in new york. the former president returned to court in the last hour. he has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges of falsifying business records in relation to a payment made to the adult film actress stormy daniels. she finished testifying yesterday. live now to new york and our north america

correspondent, nada tawfik. take us through it. today's witness is very different _ take us through it. today's witness is very different to _ take us through it. today's witness is very different to stony _ take us through it. today's witness is very different to stony daniels. l is very different to stony daniels. it is madly in wester house, a former white house aide was right outside the oval office working and she literally wrote a book about how much she enjoyed working with the president, she says if he was treated unfairly, the prosecution said they have been questioning her and she has been one of the most helpful witnesses. she detailed how she was the one who would bring checks from the trump organisation to sign. part of those 34 for spying business record

charges are cheques that donald trump signed which prosecutors say was an illegal reimbursement to michael cohen which the defence says was just donald trump paying legal expenses that were legitimate. so madeleine westerhout has said that donald trump would often sign cheques without reviewing them, and she couldn't recall seeing specific instances where he spoke to alan weisberg, the chief financial officer about specific checks, although she acknowledged that he did often speak with his chief financial officer even in the white house. so she has been a helpful witness for the defence to try and undercut the prosecution's arguments that this was part of a conspiracy. thank you very much. let's continue. let's speak to rae chornenky, former president of the national federation of republican women and a former superior courtjudge.

she's in phoenix, arizona. thank you for being live on bbc news. we are at the end of another week of this trial, your assessment of what we have heard in totality so far? 50 of what we have heard in totality so far? ., ., of what we have heard in totality so far? . ., ., far? so far, the highlight of it all in my opinion. — far? so far, the highlight of it all in my opinion, is _ far? so far, the highlight of it all in my opinion, is the _ far? so far, the highlight of it all i in my opinion, is the discrepancies in my opinion, is the discrepancies in the testimony of stormy daniels. i think that is going to go a long way for thejury to i think that is going to go a long way for the jury to make its final decision. in way for the “ury to make its final decision. , ., ., decision. in terms of what the prosecution — decision. in terms of what the prosecution is _ decision. in terms of what the prosecution is doing, - decision. in terms of what the prosecution is doing, bit - decision. in terms of what the prosecution is doing, bit by i decision. in terms of what the | prosecution is doing, bit by bit they are putting together their case. we had that capture and kill sequence of witnesses in the first week. we have gone through some of the payments, we had the michael cohen witness still to come, and stormy daniels, you mentioned that donald trump denies that

relationship, the prosecution is working from the ground up trying to establish there was a liaison here, trying to establish there was a payment. in terms of how well they are doing, what do you make of that? i am thinking that the working step—by—step with their case, the prosecution's case is almost more revealing of what i would think is a campaign aspect, not evidence that can be counted or at least rounded very well. and they put witnesses on that say different things, or say things now that contradict what they said in the past. to me, that is more of a disgrace for the former president than an actual trial. i president than an actual trial. i hear what you are saying but if the

jury hear what you are saying but if the jury believes stormy daniels, they believe there was a payment and it can be linked to donald trump, then they are home and dry, aren't they? well, except for one aspect that came out yesterday with stormy daniels testimony. it is now said that the signing of the check was donein that the signing of the check was done in the white house. and if the payment was allegedly in some kind of election counter, then he was already elected when that cheque was signed. so how did that affect the election or what was the intent that would make the election somehow change? if he was already elected when the cheque was written? let me ask you a final question about the evidence. ., ., evidence. you had quite lurid details, this _ evidence. you had quite lurid details, this sexual _ evidence. you had quite lurid|

details, this sexual encounter evidence. you had quite lurid i details, this sexual encounter with an adult movie star whilst he was married. you had at one stage her saying that donald trump said i look like his daughter. do you think there is a yuck factor here in terms of the evidence that will play badly for donald trump with women voters, evangelical supporters who are so far sticking with him? it evangelical supporters who are so far sticking with him?— far sticking with him? it will surely have _ far sticking with him? it will surely have an _ far sticking with him? it will surely have an effect i far sticking with him? it will surely have an effect of i far sticking with him? it will. surely have an effect of some far sticking with him? it will- surely have an effect of some kind, however, again, there have been so many discrepancies in what stormy daniels has said over the years and what she has signed in terms of paperwork that i don't think that she is going to carry a great deal of credibility against the president.— of credibility against the president. . ., ., ., president. and we have to leave it there but it _ president. and we have to leave it there but it is _ president. and we have to leave it there but it is the _ president. and we have to leave it there but it is the end _ president. and we have to leave it there but it is the end of— there but it is the end of another gripping week in that trial. thank you for your perspective and joining

us from phoenix, arizona. prince harry has said it was great to be back in the uk after a three—day visit from america. the bbc has been given exclusive access to a charity event in central london he attended, and daniela relph was there. go! it's a side of prince harry we've not seen so much of lately. he mucked in for a very special party. every child in this room has lost a parent who served in the military. the charity, scotty's little soldiers, supports them. prince harry was the surprise party guest. since he left the uk for california, seeing him up close in this context has been rare. very nice to meet you. nice to have you back. how is it being here? it's great. it's amazing. what scotty's is doing with these kids is absolutely incredible and very needed as well. the more...the more opportunity we get to do these kind of events,

the more that families and kids up and down the country actually know that scotty's exists, which is really the most important thing. is it nice to be back in the uk? nice to see you. the family fallout on the move to america has limited what prince harry can do for organisations who support in the uk. this party was the first event he had been able to attend in person with the charity. prince harry got so much from that room and had so much fun and joy that i would not mind betting that he's probably thinking about those children right now, because it does that to you. it really makes you think that these children are incredible. harry's competitive streak was on full show. this was a race to eat the strawberry laces the quickest. the prince found himself on the winning side. and the roll the chocolate down the tape measure game was also a crowd pleaser, with not a bit of food going to waste. how many maltesers did

you eat off the floor? er, you guys probably know better than i do but at least three. i think, at that point, it started getting a little bit weird. from london to nigeria, and a reunion with his wife, meghan, duchess of sussex. the couple are in abuja, talking to schoolchildren about using the stigma of mental health. cheering and applause. its a visit that will highlight the work they do with the foundation. but harry and meghan are no longer working royals, so this isn't an official visit of any kind. it will include engagements related to the military, sport and gender equality. a very similar agenda to the royal tours they have done in the past. we will take a short break, will

have the latest from the middle east and eurovision. that is all here on bbc news. don't go away. hello. for most of us, it feels more like summer than spring out there today. another very warm one across large swathes of the uk. the weekend will be very warm, as well. dry for most on saturday, but things are set to change on sunday with the increasing chance of some heavy thundery showers. you can see weather systems waiting in the wings out in the atlantic, but, for the time being they are being fended off by this area of high pressure. we do have a bit more in the way of cloud across the north of scotland. the odd spot of rain here. also, this area of low cloud and mistiness rolling on to some of these eastern coasts of east anglia and the south—east of england. elsewhere, good spells of sunshine, highs of 24, maybe 25 degrees. through this evening and tonight, this area of cloud will roll its way in off the north sea into parts

of eastern england, perhaps getting into the midlands, as well. also some areas of low cloud just rolling across the north—west of scotland, maybe affecting shetland. most places seeing clear skies and hence some sunshine to start saturday morning. temperatures not dropping too far at all. for saturday, this area of cloud will tend to roll back towards north sea coasts. for most, it's going to be fine with some sunshine, but we do have the chance for some showers to pop up. they should be quite well scattered, but across some parts of scotland, especially over high ground, we could see the odd heavy thundery downpour. equally, in the best of the sunshine, highs of 24, perhaps 25 degrees. not a bad looking day for northern ireland, maybe just the odd shower out towards the west. dry for the bulk of england and wales. a bit of patchy fairweather cloud and still some of this low cloud and mist affecting some north sea coasts, but temperatures easily up to 23, 24, 25 degrees. 0ur area of high pressure starts to give way as we head into the second half of the weekend, with these frontal systems rolling in from the atlantic, so the increasing chance of seeing some heavy showers and perhaps some

thunderstorms popping up as we head through sunday, particularly across parts of northern ireland, northern england, wales, the midlands and down towards the south—west. it may well be that eastern parts of england stay dry. we'll see some showers getting going across parts of scotland. still very warm, though, with temperatures up to 25, perhaps up to 26 degrees on sunday. as we head into next week, well, a very different weather outlook. it looks much more unsettled. some rain at times and feeling cooler, as well.

this is bbc news. fierce fighting in ukraine's kharkiv region, as russia launches a surprise attack. israel's prime minister vows — to press ahead with the offensive in rafah — in defiance of us calls for restraint. and the netherlands entering to for the eurovision song contest is reportedly stopped from rehearsing by organisers. we will be live in sweden for the very latest. all of that coming up in a moment or two. first let's catch up with all the sports details. bayer leverkusen are still on course to win three

trophies this season — but they've decided to mark